ACS welcomes major Australian Data Centre infrastructure investment

Professional body emphasises importance of supporting local providers alongside global partnerships

COMPANY NEWS: The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has welcomed Amazon Web Services’ landmark AUD$20 billion investment in Australian data centre infrastructure, announced this weekend by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and AWS CEO Matt Garman in Seattle.

ACS recognises this investment as a crucial step forward in positioning Australia as a regional technology hub, particularly in artificial intelligence and cloud computing services. The infrastructure will enable Australian organisations to train and deploy AI models locally while supporting the broader digital transformation of Australian businesses.

This announcement follows similar major investments from global technology providers, including Microsoft’s commitments last year to Australian data centre infrastructure and demonstrates growing international confidence in Australia’s technology sector.

Josh Griggs, ACS Chief Executive Officer, said: “ACS strongly welcomes AWS’s AUD$20 billion commitment to Australian data centre infrastructure. This investment, combined with Microsoft’s earlier announcements, demonstrates that Australia is recognised as a strategic technology destination in the Asia-Pacific region

“These investments will provide Australian businesses and government agencies with access to world-class cloud and AI infrastructure, supporting innovation and digital transformation across all sectors of our economy. The creation of skilled technology jobs and the development of AI-ready infrastructure are particularly important for Australia’s long-term competitiveness.

“While we celebrate these major international partnerships, the ACS also emphasises the critical importance of ensuring Australian technology providers remain integral to our digital infrastructure ecosystem.

“For Australia, there’s an imperative we have a sovereign AI capability beyond the global hyperscalers, so we call for a balanced approach that combines global expertise with local capability will deliver the best outcomes for Australian businesses and strengthen our technological sovereignty.

“We encourage government and industry to continue supporting Australian technology companies and ensuring they have opportunities to participate meaningfully in these large-scale infrastructure developments. Our local providers bring unique understanding of Australian business needs and regulatory requirements that complement global solutions.

“AWS’s $20 billion investment sends a powerful signal about the scale and potential of Australia’s digital economy. It’s a clear vote of confidence in our market, but infrastructure alone isn’t enough. To fully realise this opportunity, we must pair global investment with a strong national commitment to skills, sovereign capability, and inclusive innovation. ACS sees this as a pivotal moment to embed Australian talent, values, and companies into the foundations of our future economy.”

ACS noted that AWS’s commitment to matching 100% of its electricity consumption with renewable energy aligns with Australia’s sustainability goals and demonstrates responsible infrastructure development.

The investment builds on the Australian Government’s existing strategic partnership with AWS for the delivery of a sovereign Top Secret Cloud, which will generate up to 2,000 Australian jobs, and AWS’s previous AUD$9.1 billion investment in Australia since 2012.

About ACS

ACS is the voice of Australia’s technology sector, representing over 47,000 technology professionals across all industries and across the nation.

Our members work in industry, education, government, and the community delivering the digital services that drive the nation and provide the high-skilled jobs of today and tomorrow.

ACS works to grow the technology sector while making sure IT professionals act ethically, responsibly, and in keeping with the best interests of not only their employers, but the wider community.

Through our network of branches in every state and Territory, our innovation labs, education programs and our history of over fifty years, ACS works to help all Australians be part of the nation’s highest growth sector. Visit www.acs.org.au for more information.